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The Prepared Place for the Spirit of Prophecy
30.05.2018, Daniel Glimm

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Our Heavenly Father has a prophetic being as there is the presence of many eyes in His throne room. Therefore, I would like to address the importance of the place for the spirit of prophecy provided by the church (see Ezekiel 10:12; Revelation 19:10e).

Ezekiel 10:12:

12 Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels.

Revelation 19:10e:

“… 10e For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

The Prophet Elisha in Shunem

In 2 Kings 4:8-11 we are told that on a certain day the prophet Elisha set off for Shunem (meaning “two resting places”) and met a wealthy married woman who urged him to eat in her house what he did. So, every time the prophet was on his way back to Shunem, he stopped at her place to eat.

2 Kings 4:8:
8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.

The Perception of the Prophetic Anointing

Since the noble woman recognized the prophetic anointing resting on Elisha, it was a matter of concern to her and her husband to prepare an upper room for the prophet to stay.

The prophet's room was brought about with a bed (note: to remain in the rest of God in order to conquer the land), a table (note: to remain in fellowship with God in order to move further forward strengthened in the mission), a chair (note: literally “a throne” => to be conscious of the governmental reign in Jesus Christ) and a candlestick (note: to bear the responsibility given by God in order to give guidance/revelation).

The Upper Room

The Hebrew word for “upper room” is “'ălîjāh” and means “upper chamber, room in the upper floor”. It derives from the Hebrew root word “'ālāh” and means “to go up, to ascend”.

This upper room as a chamber for Elisha was a place of transition to get strengthened, because it is said that Elisha was passing through and was being cared for and also came to rest there.

2 Kings 4:9-11:

9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God.

10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”

11 One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there.

There is a deeper meaning in the noble woman's approach to make the prophet become personally active by climbing the stairs and having to go to a higher place. In previous occasions with the Shunammite, the prophet would have entered in to stay at a lower place (note: downstairs).

The Mission of the Church, Prophets and the Transition

In the same way as the noble woman and her husband provided an upper chamber for the prophet, it should also be our task as the church not to quench the prophetic spirit of the LORD, but to rather ensure that He increases in strength among us and is as well on us (see 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 i.c.w. Isaiah 61:1a).

1 Thessalonians 5:19-20:

19 Do not quench the Spirit.

20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt …

Isaiah 61:1a:

1a The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, …

As saints, we should be positively aware that prophets have an important part, especially in times of transition. Prophets are called to live their lives as a living sacrifice including sensible worship (see Isaiah 55:7 i.c.w. Romans 12:1; James 4:8).

Isaiah 55:7:

7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Romans 12:1:

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.

James 4:8:

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Worship with Spiritual Understanding and Revelation

A living, sensible and reasonable worship service carries the expression of worship with spiritual understanding and revelation. It is the spirit of wisdom and revelation that leads to a greater recognition of the Lord (see Ephesians 1:17).

Ephesians 1:17:

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

With regard to the noble woman of 2 Kings 4, this means that she longed to receive more wisdom and revelation by providing with her present potential of food (note: spiritual nourishment, see Matthew 4:4 i.c.w. John 6:32-35a) for the prophet to get strengthened.

Matthew 4:4:

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

John 6:32-35a:

32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. …”

Because of her care the spirit of the prophet was led to teach her prophetically and bring forth new life (see 2 Kings 4:16a.17).

2 Kings 4:16a.17:

16a “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” …

The Shunammite understood this divine principle of supernatural reward of the particular anointing (see Matthew 10:41).

Matthew 10:41:

41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

This understanding of the principle established by God will help the church of Christ to enter into her promise for the respective time.

Matthew 10:41:

41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

Conclusion

The prophet Elisha's activity in the Shunammite's house clearly shows that first of all God's word (note: bread) should be present in our lives, as well as a spiritual longing for more of God's prophetic presence (note: spirit of prophecy). Both gives us access to experience the prophetic increase of His being and to receive new responsibility for the future.

The four beings before the throne of God covered with eyes on their whole body, back, hands, wings and wheels, should also be an invitation to live a life in the prophetic being of God combining the spirit of prophecy with the anointing assigned to us to act and proceed in revelatory knowledge by the spirit (see Ezekiel 10:12; Revelation 4:6; Revelation 19:10e).

Ezekiel 10:12:

12 Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels.

Revelation 4:6:

6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.

Revelation 19:10e:

“… 10e For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”